Friday, August 21, 2026

Louts arrested extorting stranded Lagos motorists to face prosecution: Official

The suspects targeted stranded drivers whose vehicles had broken down.

• April 3, 2026
Lagos State Task Force
Lagos State Task Force

The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Task force arrested three suspected hoodlums on Thursday for extortion. 

The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in a post on X, said one of the hoodlums was arrested in Palmgrove and two others along Oniru.

Mr Waha said the suspects targeted stranded drivers whose vehicles had broken down, forcing them to part with money.

He said, “Yesterday, April 2nd, 2026, operatives of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Taskforce continued with the arrest of hoodlums attacking unsuspecting drivers with broken-down vehicles popularly known as *omotaku.* 

“Three suspects were arrested at 2 different locations: Palmgrove bus stop and Oniru area on the island, for forcibly attacking their victims. Suspects will be charged in court accordingly.”

Mr Wahab’s post came just a day after some suspects called “Omotaku” louts were arrested at Marwa Bus Stop in Lekki, for threatening a truck driver, demanding his phone and money, including other suspects in Palmgrove, for attempting to harass road users.

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